Transition kindergarten: Is it the right option for your child?
The new year can be a busy and stressful time for parents of rising kindergartners. There is so much to consider, particularly here in Wake County, where school choice offers a host of benefits, but undoubtedly creates a stress-inducing decision making process for parents to navigate.
There is an added layer of important decision-making for parents of summer babies or, in other words, kids on the cusp of the school calendar cutoff date for kindergarten entry. According to WCPSS, a child must be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the current school year to attend kindergarten.
If your child has a summer birthday and has just recently turned five-years-old, you may find they still feel very young to you and wonder if they are truly ready for the big transition to kindergarten.
This may leave you wondering whether you should move ahead and put your child in kindergarten this year? Are they ready? Will they be successful? Do you want them to be the youngest child in their class? Or should you hold off on Kindergarten for a year? Are you holding them back? Is this hindering their progress and growth? Do you want them to be the oldest in their class?
My daughter has a late summer birthday and technically could have attended kindergarten in the year of 2022-2023, but we opted to hold off for a year. Now that she is in kindergarten we know we made the right decision for our family.
I spent a lot of time researching the pros and cons of giving a child a “transition year” before kindergarten. I’ve also heard it called “red-shirting” a child and soon discovered that it can raise a lot of hackles on the local moms' Facebook groups. Lots of moms had pretty strong opinions about “holding kids back” in their kindergarten year.
What I discovered in my research is that overwhelmingly children participating in a transition year before moving into kindergarten are given the opportunity to grow their social and emotional skills, allowing them to develop greater confidence. While not all children need this additional development time and it may not serve every family’s best interest, taking a transition year is rarely a detriment to a child.
According to Growing Brilliant, a transition year can help build confidence in kids. “When children go into Kindergarten confident, they are in turn better prepared to learn. They are far more likely to engage in class lessons and activities, and they will have an easier time making friends. The added self-control allows these students to have an easier time with daily Kindergarten tasks, such as following rules, controlling impulses, walking in the classroom, using inside voices, and sitting still for story time.”
Having strong social and emotional skills allows these students to put their focus and attention on academic endeavors, rather than learning how to manage emotions and classroom behaviors.
Growing Brilliant shares the results of a study done in the California school systems by the American Institute for Research. According to the study, “TK (Transitional Kindergarten) students performed six months ahead of their peers in reading and literacy, and three months ahead of their peers in math and problem-solving at the beginning of the school year. Bringing in this type of knowledge adds to confidence and helps students excel throughout their Kindergarten year.”
As I was exploring options for my family, I found myself asking for the opinion and insights of teachers, therapists, school counselors, school advisors, and just about every expert I could get in front of. Overwhelmingly what I heard from these professionals regarding a transitional kindergarten year was positive.
Some of the statements that made a lasting impression on me were:
“I’ve never seen a parent regret taking that transition year, though I have seen some parents regret NOT taking the transition year.” - Preschool Teacher
“Wouldn’t you like to give your child another year to play? They don’t get nearly enough time to play as it is.” - Kindergarten Teacher
“Would you rather your child be the youngest in their class and heavily influenced by their peers or would you rather your child be the eldest in the class and more likely to emerge as a leader?” - School Guidance Counselor
“Would you rather give your child another year of adulthood or another year of childhood?” - Child Therapist
Obviously these statements are opinions and do not apply to all children; however, these had a deep impact on me when making this important personal decision. That being said, it’s important to note that throughout this decision making process I was also carefully considering my daughter and her needs at the time.
My daughter was more than prepared academically for Kindergarten in 2022. However, I felt that after spending a year home from preschool because of the pandemic, I’d noticed a need to strengthen her social skills. I had a deep desire for her to become a better advocate for herself and to become more comfortable in various social situations, both with her peers and non-family adults.
While this was the right decision for our family, the opposite may be true for others. When considering taking a transition year, it’s important to consider the academic and social preparedness of the child.
I spoke to Lauren Bock, founder of Raleigh Schools Advising about this important parenting decision. Lauren has helped over 200 families understand and navigate school options across the Triangle.
According to Lauren, “being able to do things independently, being able to listen and follow directions, and being able to interact with others are some of the most important things” that children should be working on for a successful kindergarten transition. Lauren stated, “academic skills will be taught and teachers do a wonderful job at meeting students where they are academically.”
One consideration may be a child’s need to access specialized services. According to Lauren, “every child is different and shows readiness at different times. However, if a child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as part of his/her early childhood education, delaying registration could impact the IEP services received.” Lauren recommends parents reach out to their child’s base school to discuss delaying registration and how it will impact access to services.
In addition to IEP’s and special services, families may also need to consider finances. Many daycares and preschools can be cost-prohibitive and delaying free public schooling for an additional year isn’t feasible. Some families may also need to take into account logistical considerations such as multiple children at multiple schools, bussing and transportation issues, etc.
Ultimately, you know your own child best. You know their strengths and weaknesses, what settings they are most apt to thrive in, and how they handle themselves in different situations. You know what supports and services they may need in the classroom, your family’s financial situation, and what will work best for you logistically.
At the end of the day, taking a transition year is neither right or wrong, good or bad. It truly depends on the unique needs of each child. Deciding what school arrangements will be the right fit for your child is one of the looming responsibilities of parenthood. Luckily, you have a host of professionals available to offer insights and advice. Reach out to your child’s preschool teachers, daycare providers, and the kindergarten team at your base school. Advisors like Lauren at Raleigh Schools Advising are also an excellent resource.
It’s important to remember that no matter what decision you make about your child’s school arrangements, in the end chances are good that everything will work out. We put so much pressure on selecting the right school and doing everything in our power to set our children up for success. These considerations are certainly important, but regardless of your decision to take a transition year or not, your child will continue growing, will make friends, and will learn all they need to thrive in the world. They will be okay because ultimately they have you, a caring parent by their side helping them navigate all of life’s big transitions.
Crissy Fishbane is the co-founder of HER Health Collective, a supportive community and resource hub for moms. She is a certified therapeutic exercise specialist, personal trainer, wellness coach, and former high-school psychology teacher. Crissy believes in a holistic approach to women’s health and is a strong advocate of improved screening and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. She is passionate about building a supportive community for moms where they can make genuine connections and build authentic relationships. Crissy is a regular WRAL Family contributor.
